$2.1bn Fraud: EFCC Under Pressure to Invite and Prosecute Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan

$2.1bn Fraud: EFCC Under Pressure to Invite and Prosecute Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday received a petition urging the anti-graft agency to probe former President Gooocluck Jonathan for his role in the alleged mismanagement of $2.1 billion released to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for arms purchase.

The petition is also requesting the EFCC to invite Jonathan for interrogation on why he made N400million public funds available to a former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, for personal and private party use.

According to The Nation, Friday’s petition was the first petition the EFCC would formally receive demanding the investigation of Jonathan.

The petition said to be dated the 24th of May, 2016 came from a former member of the Enugu state house of assembly, Hon Ikenna Ejezie, through his lawyer, Mr Osuagwu Ugochukwu. President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), were copied to the petition.

A portion of the petition reads: “Our client is requesting you to, in the public interest, invite ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for questioning and possible prosecution over his role in the misuse of $2.1billion through the Office of the National Security Adviser (Col. Sambo Dasuki rtd) and disbursement of N400million funds to Olisa Metuh for personal and private political party use.

“Our client notes that Dasuki had stated severally whilst in your commission that the $2.1billion was authorized for disbursement by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for arms purchase, but later turned out to be for selfish purpose.

“Olisa Metuh also had admitted that former President Goodluck Jonathan transferred and/ or authorized release of N400million public funds to his account for political campaign of Jonathan rather than for public interest.”

A top source within the EFCC acknowledged that the agency received the petition, adding that it would subject the petition to the due procedure of the agency. The source added that it was strange that the petitioner was seeking to pressure the EFCC into action by giving it a 7-day ultimatum to do its work.